Laura Leaf says:
“Let it be!”

“At the moment, the Antarctic Treaty determines what people can or cannot do on the continent, but there is always a risk that governments will abandon the treaty. Discussions on opening up Antarctica for mining resources like coal and oil, or using it for a dumping ground for waste should never happen. The ban on these activities must be permanent. Antarctica is too precious – it should have guaranteed protection for another thousand years, not fifty.

Scientists from over 25 countries have already proved the importance of Antarctica in learning about life on Earth, both present and future. It is an essential place for measuring changes in the global climate and air pollution, yet no scientist can be certain about the impact of human activity in generations to come. That’s why it’s best to use ‘the precautionary principle’ for any decisions over Antarctica’s future – to play safe rather than be sorry later.

In 1985, scientists working for the British Antarctic Survey discovered the hole in the ozone layer. Since then, there has been an international effort to stop the causes of this life-threatening environmental problem. With improvements in technology, who knows what else we will discover so we can take action before it is too late. For example, soon there will gigantic telescopes at the South Pole to explore our atmosphere like never before.

I want to see the Antarctic Treaty as only a starting point. The Treaty’s rules and regulations should be tightened up so that in the future:

  • Satellite technology will track illegal fishing boats to stop them even entering Antarctic waters.
  • Stricter controls on tourism will prevent damage from the growing number of visitors rather than dealing with the problem afterwards.
  • All Antarctic research stations will be powered by renewable energy sources like solar energy and wind.
  • New rules will govern ‘bio-prospecting’, Antarctica’s newest industry. As a World Park owned by everybody, bio-prospector companies that create new medical treatments and products from life in Antarctica will make them cheap and available to anyone that needs them.

So my view of Antarctica’s future is keep it as it is today, except with better management and tighter controls to guarantee lasting protection for this special place”.

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Let it be